Fear of looking stingy drives Brits to spend an average £51.95 on presents they know the recipient won’t like, pushing the total for the nation to £2.6bn.

However, one in five estimates they spend £100 or more on such gifts and 43% said they would be worried about looking stingy if they spent less money.

Almost a quarter (23%) of Brits surveyed admitted they always or often receive Christmas gifts that they will never use and 51% wish they could agree with their family and friends to spend less on Christmas presents.

The research by Macmillan Cancer Support revealed that instead of buying unwanted gifts, one in four would prefer a donation is made to charity.

Rachel Murphy, fundraising marketing manager at Macmillan, said: “It’s heartwarming so many people would prefer to have a donation made to charity. Christmas can be a particularly difficult time of year for people living with cancer and their loved ones, and every donation Macmillan Cancer Support receives means we can continue to be there to support the three million people currently affected by cancer in the UK, enabling them to live life as fully as they can.”

Murphy added that a donation of £30 could pay for one Macmillan nurse for an hour, providing families with medical, practical and emotional support.

To donate, visit macmillan.org.uk/christmas2019.